Poration



Patented Jan. 5, 19732 HOWARD A. GRIFFIN, oF HIGIIIAnnrARK, MICHIGAN, AssIGNonTo CHRYSLER COR- IIEOIELA'JJION,A Oil?A DETROIT; MICHIGAN, A `CORIBIAZTJIOIT vOIE DELAWARE VACUUM TANK v .Y y Application fud'octaber'is, 192s. serial No. 313,335.

This invention relates toa means torregulating a liquid level, and more particularly to a means for regulating-the liquid,` level in a reserve chamberl of 'a vacuum tank. i

In the manufacturing of vacuum-tanks, it is usual to provide a dump valve leading from the suction chamber to a reserve'chainber belowthe suction Chamber. `-AThe liquid level in the reserve chamber is usually above the dump valve. In somecon'structions the veilt for the upper orf vacuumV chamber is taken from the reserve chamber, open to atmospheric pressure, through the dump valve. Then the dump valve is submerged in liquid and opened, the air admittedlthrough the valve'to the vacuum chamber causes a whistle f as it passes through vthe liquid into the'valve.

An important object of thisfinventiouis to lower the liquid level in the reservefchamber by an inexpensive meansso that the dump valve is not submerged invfthe liquid.`

Then the liquid is prevented Jfrom reaching this height, theqdisagreeabl'enois'e is no long-v er present.

Another object ofthe invention is to provice an air chamberaround the dump valve, the level ot the liquid sealing the'chamber and providing a dead air space which Vprevents the liquid from raising to alevel around the valve. 'f y y Y t Other objects and advantages vofthe'invfention will more fully appear from the-following description taken .in connection with the accompanying drawings,-inA which:

Fig. 1 is aside view of a conventional vacuum tank, parts being broken away and in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the directionindicated by the arrows. .Y

Fig. 3 is a front view of the-lower end of the vacuum chamber showing a modification of my invention.

Fig. t isa view corresponding to F ig. 3

showing another modification of my device.

Fig. 5 is aview showing a further modiit,y

cation of my invention, parts being ybroken away and 1n section. n

Referring to the drawings, I have shown an outer, lower tank lforming what has chamber.

kbeen termed the reserve chamber and an inner upper` tank 12 forming the vacuum The inner tank 12 is provided with a ysuction passage 14 adapted to form a communication between the tank 12 and a source of suction such as engine intake mani- "fold, not shown. A liquid inlet passage 16 forms al communication between the tank 12L and asource ot liquid such as the Vgasoline supply tank of an automobile. i Parts 18, one on' each of the .passages 14 and 16, extend through the upper wall of the tank and are received in the upper wall of the tank 12, forming a means for suspending theupper tank 12 within the tank 10. The tank `10 has an opening 2O in its upper face through which the tankmay' be filled with a liquid and through which airv may be admitted forming a vent for the reserve tank 10. A`r loosely fitting cap 22 covers the opening 20 to prevent dirtv from entering therethrough but permits air to be admitted to the tank 10 to maint-ain atmosphericl pressure within the In the bottom wall of the tank 12, a cylindrical sleeve-26 has beenlprovided forming alvalve seat and afcommunication between the two tanksy l0 and 12.A rAt the under side of the sleeve'26 a fiat disc is looselyvsupported ona suitable linkage connected to aiioat `29.

The float-29 is guided for vertical movement bythe vsidelegsBO ot'fa U shaped member which isvmounted on a rod 32 which extends through an opening in the horizontal portion of the U shaped member. The rod 32 extends through the loat and the lower end thereof is pivotally connected at one end on an arm 34 which in turn is pivotedl at .its

center'as shown at 3e.v V Ihe opposite end of the arm `is provided with a link S8 extended: downwardly therefrom through a small opening or valve Seat in the valve 28.

On the llink 38 andbelow the valve 28 is a small valve 40 adapted for closing the Opene ing through the valve 28. After the opening through the valve 28 has been closed, furtherk movement of the float and linkage causes closing lof the valve 28. Thelower end of thelink 38 is pivoted to a link 42 which in turn is'pivo'ted to a rigid depending arm e4.

Within the sleeve 26 and extending upwardly into the tank 12, I have provided a pipe 46 which, when the velve 28 is open, forms a communication between the two tanks 10 and 12 for the passage of air from the tank 10, under atmospheric pressure, to

the tank 12.

12 has been filled with liquid by the suction through the connection 15', the float is in its raised position with the valve and 28 away from the seats. Air then passes through the pipe 46 serving` as a vent for the upper chamber and the liquid flows into the reserve chamber ready for delivery by gravity into the carburetor.

Heretofore, the valves 28, and 40 have been submerged in the liquid and when the valve 40 has-been opened, the air and liquid being drawn through the tank 12 past the valve 40, causes a disagreeable noise. It has been found that by lowering the liquid level away from the valve 40 the noise is no longer present.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a cylindrical sleeve 5() soldered .or otherwise secured to the lower surface of the tank 12 around the valves 2.8 and 40. Thelower end ofthe sleeve projects slightly below the valves forming Aan air chamber. Then the liquid level in the tank 12 reachesthe lower edge of the sleeve 50, the liquid seals the chamber formed by the sleeve making adead air space around the valve. By such a device the liquid level never reaches the valve andconsequently only air is drawn through into the tank 12 when the valve 40 is opened.

The sleeve may be secured to a plate 52 which is detachably secured to the lower surface of the tank 12, forming the bottom wall ofthe tank. Byy this arrangement it is possible to reduce the diameter of the sleeve. In other-forms offmy device the sleeve may be provided with a flange 54 as shown in Flg. 3 and secured to the under surface by the tank 12-.by the samescrews 56 which hold the bottom plate on the tank 12, a gasket being provided between the sleeveand plate 52 to make the connection air tight. As shown in Fig. 4, thecylindrical wall of the tank 12 is provided with a rib above the lower open end ofthe have been eliminated and the construction is ideal for an inexpensive device.

It will be understood that various forms of my device, including changes in the size and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit of m invention, andit is not my intention to imit its scope other than by the terms of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a vacuum tank, the combination of an uppervacuum chamber having a passage in th'e bottom wall thereof, a reserve chamber below said `vacuum chamber and open to atmospheric pressure, a pipe in said passage extending upwardly in said suction chamber forming a vent to said suction chamber from said reserve chamber, a valve in said passage for closing-said passage and said vent, and means for maintaining the liquid level in said reserve chamber below said valve.

2. In a vacuum tank, the combination of an upper vacuum chamber, a reserve chamber below said vacuum chamber and open to atmospheric pressure, said vacuum chamber havinga passage forming a. communication between said chambers, a valve for said passage, means for forming an air passage from said reserve chamber to said suction chamber Within said passage andabove said valve, a small valve within said first mentioned valve, and a depending flange around and extending below said last named valve, said flange forming .an air tight chamber around said valve when the liquid level in said reserve tank reaches the open end of said flange.

3.. A device of the class described comprisingan upper chamber, a lower chamber, a passage forming a communication between said chambers, a valve for said passage having an opening, a valvefor said opening, and means for preventing the liquid level in said reserve chamber from reaching said last named valve.

4. A device of the class described comprisingv anl upper chamber, alower chamber, a valve in the bottom of said u per chamber, a valve in said last named va ve, and a depending lange on said first named valve and extending belowsaid second named valve.

HOWARD A. GRIFFIN.

tank and the plate 52 carrying the valve and float mechanism is secured to the rib 60. The rib 60 in this form has been rolled in the side walls of the tank.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a form of my device in which the air tight chamber has been formed on the valve. The sleeve 26 in this form of my device forms a seat for a semispherical valve28 which also is the seat for the valve 40. It will be. understood that kthe valve 28 forms an air tightlchamber and keeps the liquid level from reaching the Valve 40. In this construction many of the `parta 

